Community Engagement Report
The Community Engagement Report
Engaging the Community: Insights from Loyola's Campus Comprehensive Plan Outreach
The public phase of the Campus Plan was designed to engage Edgewater and Rogers Park residents, gathering their insights and prioritizing their needs as part of Loyola’s campus planning process. From June to October 2024, this initiative achieved remarkable engagement metrics: a project website attracted 5,464 visits from 3,078 unique users, and a multilingual survey yielded 609 responses across multiple languages. The initiative also featured eight large-scale community events where participants engaged deeply in discussions centered on critical themes such as environmental sustainability, safety, and education.
This impressive response resulted from Loyola's intentional outreach to diverse segments within the community. Residents expressed appreciation for the university's role in fostering economic development and cultural enrichment—highlighting improvements in streetscapes, green spaces, and public safety. However, they also raised questions about Loyola’s impact on local businesses and housing affordability stemming from ongoing property acquisitions. The call for greater inclusivity in future planning efforts resonated strongly among community members.
Community Top Priorities:
In addition to survey data, interactive focus groups, town hall meetings, and advisory group discussions revealed key priorities that reflect shared aspirations for the community's future:
- Safety and security: Top priority from survey data and identified as critical in four out of eight community events. Pedestrian and bicycle safety along Sheridan Road, access to safe bike paths and general crime and safety concerns were highlighted as well.
- Green spaces, parks and recreational facilities: Second highest priority from survey data and identified as a top priority in three out of eight community events for access to safe greenspace and play space.
- Schools and Education: Also prioritized at four events; reflecting residents' desire for improved educational opportunities in their area.
These themes illustrate that residents are particularly concerned about cultivating a clean, green and safe environment while ensuring access to quality education.
Inclusive Planning:
To champion inclusiveness throughout its engagement process, Loyola’s Neighborhood Initiatives team adopted several strategic approaches:
- Multilingual Surveys: Surveys were offered in English , Spanish , Filipino ,and Arabic , accommodating diverse linguistic backgrounds.
- Diverse Event Formats:
- Public meetings took place both virtually & in-person.
- Smaller group sessions facilitated more intimate discussions.
- Public meetings included Spanish translation specifically catering to non-English speakers.
- Paper Surveys at Multiple Locations: To enhance accessibility further—for individuals without internet access or limited digital literacy—paper surveys were distributed at six strategically selected sites across Edgewater/Rogers Park neighborhoods including libraries, aldermanic offices, and worship centers. This ensured broad participation across demographics.
- Community Events: Eight large public gatherings incorporated interactive tools that facilitated meaningful face-to-face dialogue among actively participating residents.
By effectively leveraging these strategies throughout its engagement process, Loyola aimed not only to gather comprehensive feedback but also foster genuine connections with diverse segments of its surrounding communities —an essential step towards better understanding local needs amid evolving development plans ahead.